Fighting for Sievierodonetsk continues, Russia pushing ahead from Popasna – Luhansk Military Administration

Olena Roshchina – Sunday, 19 June 2022, 07:58

In Luhansk Oblast, fighting for Sievierodonetsk continues. The Ukrainian army has repelled Russian assault operations on several fronts. Civilians have been killed in Lysychansk.

Source: Serhii Haidai, head of the Luhansk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote from Haidai: "The situation is Sievierodonetsk is very difficult. Enemy drones are conducting aerial reconnaissance in the central parts of the city all day long and are able to adjust fire as soon as our defence positions change.

Neighbourhoods near bridges came under powerful fire once again. Sievierodonetsk’s Azot [chemical plant - ed.] was hit twice: the entry checkpoint and the plant’s refinery were damaged."

Details: Haidai said that "the enemy is pushing ahead from Popasna".

Russian occupying forces fired on Lysychansk, Metiolkine, Borivske, Bila Hora, Ustynivka, Mykolaivka and Bilohorivka.

Russian aircraft conducted airstrikes near Bila Hora and Myrna Dolyna; Russia also launched a rocket strike on Verkniokamianka.

Buildings and infrastructure in Popasna and Hirske hromadas [amalgamated territorial communities - ed.] were significantly damaged. In particular, 16 houses were damaged in Novoivanivka, nine in Mykolaivka and six in Nyrkove.

Quote from Haidai: "Units of our troops repelled assault operations near Toshkivka, as well as on the Orikhove – Zolote and Pervomaisk – Zolote fronts. The assault on the Orikhove – Hirske front continues.

Right now, the Russians are also trying to conduct reconnaissance-in-force on the Nyrkove – Mykolaivka front. Ukrainian soldiers have repulsed their attempt to advance on the Vrubivka – Mykolaivka front."

Details: In the last day and a half, the bodies of two men killed in Russian shelling were found in Lysychansk.

"The destruction of residential buildings in the city continues at an unprecedented rate," Haidai added.